After the marathon travel day and an efficient first day touring around, I had a slow few days in the city. On Saturday (12/15) I got up late and walked the city: along the waterfront, past the Istanbul Modern Museum, over the Galata bridge and through the Spice Market. Nothing too crazy... It was more of the same the next day... here are some thoughts:

Sitting on a rooftop terrace on a rainy day catching up. It is a perfect catch up day... I really haven’t done too much after a late night out. I need to train for Capetown and Jimbo! I finally feel like I am preparing myself for a run of partying with the champ. But those late nights mean late starts the next day, which I am not all that fond of... but here I am, on this terrace, watching the neighborhood of Ortakoy pass by beneath me. Boats passing by on the Bosporus. The call to prayer blaring out of the speakers posted to the minarets. Pigeons following the tourists around. Topkaki palace and the Golden Horn faintly silhouetted in the distance.

I wound up staying in the bar all evening/ night, catching the Derby match between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe. It was an exciting game, Galatasary getting a goal early, then Fenerbahçe equalizing before Galatasaray notched the winner. I was supposed to go to a narghli (hukha) bar with Paul to watch the game over near the Grand Bazaar, but I just wasn’t feeling up to trekking all the way out there in the rain. Anyway, I will keep it short and sweet here as I am trying to catch up!